This IELTS Reading post covers the second part of Cambridge 11 Reading Test 1. Here, I’ve discussed Reading Passage 2 entitled “The Falkirk Wheel”. I’ve provided the solutions with the best explanations. You need to match the answers with your Cambridge 11 IELTS Series book Test 1. Hopefully, you will find this post useful.

READING PASSAGE 2

Title of the passage: The Falkirk Wheel (A unique engineering achievement)

Questions 14-19 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE

The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE

The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN]

14. The Falkirk wheel has linked the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal for the first time in history.

Keywords for this question: linked, Forth and Clyde Canal, Union Canal, first time,

In paragraph 2 lines 4-9 say, “….Historically, the two canals had been joined near the town of Falkirk by a sequence of 11 locks – enclosed sections of canal in which the water level could be raised or lowered- that stepped down across a distance of 1.5 km. This has been dismantled in 1933, .. … .” These lines mean that both the canals had been linked before, so this is not the first time.

So, the answer is: FALSE

15. There was some opposition to the design of the Falkirk Wheel at first.

Keywords for this question: opposition, design, at first

As the most important keyword for this question is ‘opposition’, we need to find any word that relates to opposition. Apparently, there is no such information in the text.  According to paragraph 3, many ideas were submitted for the project but the writer does not show whether anyone opposed the plan that was approved.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

16. The Falkirk Wheel was initially put together at the location where its components were manufactured.

Keywords for this question: initially, put together, location, components, manufactured

As this question asks for the location of the wheel, we need to find the information about the Wheel’s  location.  According  to  paragraph  4, lines 1-4,  “The  various  parts  of  the  Falkirk  Wheel  were  all constructed and assembled at Butterley Engineering’s Steelworks in Derbyshire…”. So the statement and the information in the text have the same meaning.

So, the answer is: TRUE

17. The Falkirk  Wheel  is  the  only  boat  lift  in  the  world  which  has  steel  sections  bolted  together  by hand.

Keywords for this question: only boat lift, bolted together by hand

At the end of paragraph 4, the writer says, “Over 45,000 bolt holes were matched with their bolts, and each bolt was hand-tightened.” So, the writer does mention about bolts being hand-tightened. But, we do not find any information which confirms that it was the only boat with such unique feature.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

18. The weight of the gondolas varies according to the size of boat being carried.

Keywords for this question: weight, varies, size of boat

The answer can be found in paragraph 5 lines 6-7. Here, the writer says, “….These gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying boats.” It means that the weight is always the same.

So, the answer is: FALSE

19. The construction  of  the  Falkirk  Wheel  site  took  into  account  the  presence  of  a  nearby  ancient monument.

Keywords for this question: construction, presence, ancient, monument

In relation to the last paragraph, “the Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of historically important Antonine Wall”. Here, historically important means ancient.  So, we can understand form here that the construction of the Wheel is influenced by the presence of an ancient monument.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 20-26 (Labeling diagram)

[In this type of question, candidates will be asked to work on a picture and fill in some gaps in the given points or labels. There is a condition to write the answers with no more than one, two or three words. An interesting point about this type of question is that the answers for these questions are generally found around one or two paragraphs. The picture or diagram can become useful because it may help a lot to find critical information.]

Title of the diagram: How a boat is lifted on the Falkirk Wheel

20. A pair of ______ are lifted in order to shut out water from canal basin.

Keywords for this question: a pair, lifted, shut out water

In lines 4-7 of paragraph 6, we can find, “Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin”. Now, here we find some matches with keywords.

* a pair of = two

* lifted = raised

* shut out water = seal off from water

So, the answer is: gates

21. A _______ is taken out, enabling Wheel to rotate

Keywords for this question: taken out, rotate

As said in the fourth sentence of paragraph 6, “A hydraulic clamp ______ , is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn”. We find some matches with keywords here. *taken out = removed    *rotate = turn

So, the answer is: clamp

22. Hydraulic motors drive_______

Keywords for this question: drive

As far as paragraph 6 is concerned, “In  the  central  machine  room  an  array  of  ten  hydraulic  motors  then begins to rotate the central axle“. So it means that the hydraulic motors drive, or control the axle by rotating it.

So, the answer is: axle

23. A range of different-sized ________ ensures boat keeps upright.

Keywords for this question: different-sized, upright

Again in paragraph 6, lines 16-21 say, “As the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept in the upright position by a simple gearing system. Two eight-metre-wide cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width connected by two smaller cogs…..” Here, the writer says that the writer illustrates the gearing system which comprises many cogs of different sizes. So, the word in the blank is cogs.

So, the answer is: cogs

24. Boat reaches top Wheel, then moves directly onto…

Keywords for this question: moves directly onto

If we look closely at the end of paragraph 6, the author indicates, “When the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the aqueduct situated 24 metres above the canal basin”. Here, *move onto=pass onto, * directly=straight

So, the answer is: aqueduct

25. Boat travels through tunnel beneath Roman __________

Keywords for this question: beneath, Roman

The end of the text provides us the answer. Here, in the last lines of the last paragraph, the writer says, “Boats travel under this wall via a tunnel …..”. “This wall” indicates to the wall built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. Also, here under means beneath.

So, the answer is: wall

26. ________ raise boat 11m to level of Union Canal.

Keywords for this question: raise, reach

The final paragraph begins with a special information. “The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by a pair of locks“.  So, here it means that the locks actually lifts or raises boat.

So, the answer is: locks

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 Test 1 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 Test 1 Reading Passage 3